National Assembly Suspends Legislative Engagements With South Africa Over Xenophobic Attacks
The National Assembly has suspended all official legislative engagements with South Africa over renewed reports of xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals in the country.
The decision, announced on Friday, followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives amid reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their homes, businesses and investments in South Africa.
In a statement signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the federal legislature said it was deeply concerned about the recurrence of xenophobic attacks and what it described as the continued failure of South African authorities to effectively halt the violence despite repeated diplomatic interventions.
The suspension covers official visits to South Africa by the National Assembly, its committees, lawmakers, officials and staff. It also extends to conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchange programmes and other activities organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities.
The National Assembly said the suspension applies to both physical and virtual participation in such engagements and would remain in force until further notice, subject to review by its leadership as circumstances warrant.
The statement added that the Clerk had been directed to communicate the decision to senators, members of the House of Representatives, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff to ensure strict compliance.
The lawmakers said the decision followed persistent reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals residing in South Africa, noting that previous appeals by the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders for the protection of foreign nationals had not prevented further incidents.
While acknowledging efforts by the Federal Government to assist affected Nigerians and facilitate their return home, the National Assembly said stronger measures were necessary to demonstrate Nigeria’s concern for the safety, dignity and welfare of its citizens abroad.
However, the legislature stressed that the suspension was not intended to undermine the longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and South Africa.
Rather, it described the action as a strong expression of concern over the safety and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa.
The latest development comes amid Nigeria’s efforts to evacuate citizens from South Africa following renewed xenophobic violence. According to the report, hundreds of Nigerians have returned home through government-assisted evacuation exercises after voluntarily registering and undergoing the required screening.
Nigeria has also continued to engage South African authorities diplomatically over the attacks, with the Federal Government calling for concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals and ensure that perpetrators of violence are brought to justice.
President Bola Tinubu has also raised concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa at the African Union level, calling for collective action to address the recurring incidents.
The National Assembly consequently called on the South African Government to take urgent steps to protect Nigerians and other African nationals residing in the country, prevent further attacks, investigate reported incidents and prosecute those found culpable in accordance with the law.
The federal lawmakers also urged state Houses of Assembly across the country to take note of the resolution and consider adopting similar measures, stressing that the National Assembly would continue to monitor developments affecting the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa.